Hot spots can seem to appear almost overnight. One day your dog’s skin looks normal, and the next there may be a red, moist, irritated patch that your dog cannot stop licking or scratching.

Hot spots, also called acute moist dermatitis, are areas of inflamed skin that can worsen quickly when licking, chewing, moisture, and bacteria continue to irritate the area.

The good news is that mild hot spots can often be managed early with proper cleaning, drying, and protection. More severe cases may need veterinary treatment.

What Causes Hot Spots?

Hot spots usually start with something that makes a dog itchy or uncomfortable.

Common triggers include:

• Fleas or insect bites
• Allergies
• Moisture trapped under the coat
• Swimming or bathing
• Ear infections
• Skin infections
• Matted fur
• Excessive licking or chewing
• Minor wounds or irritation

Dogs with thick coats or underlying allergies may be especially prone to them.

What Does a Hot Spot Look Like?

Hot spots are often:

• Red
• Moist or oozing
• Painful or itchy
• Warm to the touch
• Missing hair
• Crusted around the edges
• Rapidly enlarging

Your dog may repeatedly lick, chew, or scratch the area, which can make the inflammation worse.

What Should You Do First?

The goal is to stop the cycle of moisture, irritation, licking, and contamination.

1. Gently Clean the Area

Keeping the area clean is an important first step.

A gentle wound cleanser can help remove dirt, debris, and surface contaminants without unnecessarily irritating already-sensitive skin.

This is where hypochlorous acid, or HOCl, can be especially useful.

HOCl is a gentle antimicrobial cleansing ingredient that can be used on minor wounds and irritated skin. It is well suited for pet first aid because it is non-toxic and gentle around sensitive areas when used as directed.

PetVet Medic® Wound Wash is veterinarian-formulated with HOCl to help gently cleanse and flush minor wounds, hot spots, and irritated skin.

2. Keep the Area Dry

Moisture can make hot spots worse.

After cleansing, gently pat the area dry rather than rubbing it. If your dog has a thick coat, carefully trimming hair around the affected area may help improve airflow, but avoid clipping directly over painful or severely inflamed skin unless you are comfortable doing so.

3. Soothe and Protect the Skin

After cleaning, a hydrogel can help provide longer-lasting contact with the irritated area.

PetVet Medic® Wound Care Hydrogel is also veterinarian-formulated with HOCl and is designed to stay in place longer than a liquid wound wash. It helps soothe and protect minor wounds and irritated skin while supporting the skin’s natural recovery process.

This creates a simple two-step approach:

Step 1: Clean with Wound Wash
Step 2: Soothe & Protect with Hydrogel

Both products are made in the USA in an FDA-registered facility.

Stop the Licking

This may be one of the most important steps.

If your dog continues licking or chewing the area, the skin may not have a chance to recover.

Depending on the location, you may need:

• An Elizabethan collar
• Inflatable collar
• Recovery suit
• Protective boot for certain paw lesions

The goal is to prevent your dog from repeatedly traumatizing the area.

When Should You See a Veterinarian?

Hot spots can become infected or spread quickly.

Contact your veterinarian if:

• The area is large or rapidly expanding
• There is significant pain
• You see pus, odor, or heavy discharge
• Your dog seems lethargic or ill
• The hot spot is near the eye or ear canal
• Your dog has multiple lesions
• The problem keeps coming back
• Your dog will not stop scratching or chewing
• The area is not improving

Recurring hot spots often mean there is an underlying problem such as allergies, fleas, ear disease, or another source of chronic itching that needs to be addressed.

Can You Prevent Hot Spots?

You may not be able to prevent every hot spot, but you can reduce the risk.

Keep your dog’s coat clean and well groomed, dry them thoroughly after swimming or bathing, stay consistent with flea prevention, and pay attention when your dog suddenly starts licking or scratching one particular area.

Catching irritation early can make a big difference.

A Simple Hot Spot First-Aid Routine

For a minor area of skin irritation:

Clean → Dry → Soothe → Prevent Licking → Monitor

Having a gentle wound cleanser and hydrogel in your pet first aid kit can make it easier to respond when irritation first appears.

PetVet Medic® Wound Wash and Wound Care Hydrogel provide a veterinarian-formulated, HOCl-powered 2-step system for cleansing, soothing, and protecting minor wounds, hot spots, and irritated skin.

Because with hot spots, addressing the problem early is much easier than waiting until a small irritated area becomes a much bigger one.

Dr. Leah Hill, DVM
Founder, Pet Vet Products
Veterinarian-designed first aid and emergency preparedness for pets.